Fantasy Football Week 7: Running Back Rankings

A rookie comes off his bye to edge out Clinton Portis and grab the top spot in Week 7's Running Back Rankings. Which one? Well...

These rankings are reflective of how I believe NFL players will perform, from a standard fantasy scoring perspective, in their current situations and Week Seven matchups.

1. Chris Johnson, TEN (at KC). The Chiefs’ run defense is basically terrible. Chris Johnson is gaining carries in Tennessee. The Titans are undefeated. Chris Johnson is fast. He should rack up yards in bunches. This all adds up to a disaster for the Chiefs’ defense. Make sure you gain from their loss by starting Johnson.
2. Clinton Portis, WAS (vs CLE). Portis now leads the league in rushing and is ready to go against a Browns defense that has already allowed three touchdowns to running backs on two occasions this year. 
3. Adrian Peterson, MIN (at CHI). Adrian Peterson is becoming more and more like a time bomb. He’s ready to explode in any given week. That makes you not allowed to bench him, even against a tough Bears defense. Don’t be afraid of starting him this week, however, as he rushed for 224 and 3 TDs in a game against them last year. 
4. Steve Slaton, HOU (vs DET). The Lions are bad. Just start Slaton. 
5. Marion Barber, DAL (at STL). With Tony Romo maybe playing with a broken finger, Brad Johnson playing if he doesn’t, and Felix Jones out, Barber should see more touches in the next month or so, even though the Cowboys now boast the best receiving corps in the league. 
6. Marshawn Lynch, BUF (vs SD). Every team in the AFC West division is a target for opposing running backs. Marshawn Lynch will remind us why in Week 7.  
7. Brandon Jacobs, NYG (vs SF). As long as Jacobs stays healthy, he’s a good option to start in a run-heavy Giants offense. He’s been healthy this year, so keep him in your lineup. 
8. Steven Jackson, STL (vs DAL). The Rams simply must get Jackson the ball. Don’t be fooled by the Cowboys’ defensive rushing numbers: they’ve “bottled up” a Week 1 Jamal Lewis (62 yards), an ailing Brian Westbrook (58 yards, and still came up with three touchdowns), Ryan Grant (who I don’t really believe in this year), Chris Perry and Cedric Benson (the Bengals are an 0-for team), and Edgerrin James (49 yards last Week). Westbrook did well for fantasy owners, but the only other No. 1 fantasy running back they faced? Clinton Portis, who went for 121 on them. Expect Jackson to be around there in total yards, and score. 
9. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD(at BUF). You have to start LT. He should consistently do better later on in the year, as his track record and schedule suggest, but he could come up with a big game at any time. 
10.  Frank Gore, SF (vs NYG). Frank Gore is the third-highest scoring RB in Fantasy, but the Giants have not given up a 100-yard rushing day to any back this season. 
11. Reggie Bush, NO (at CAR). The Panthers are giving up yards to backs. Bush would be higher on the list this week, if it were not for Deuce McAllister in the backfield getting carries. 
12.  Mewelde Moore, PIT (at CIN). Moore looks to start again this week, as Willie Parker is uncertain to go at the Bengals. If Parker does go, start him, but if he doesn’t, Moore should be a good play at the 0-for Bengals. 
13.  DeAngelo Williams, CAR (vs NO). The Saints won’t be able to stop the run as well as they have against the Raiders and Vikings in weeks past because of Steve Smith, Jake Delhomme and the passing game opening up space for Williams and Jonathan Stewart to run through. 
14.  Matt Forte, CHI (vs MIN). Forte is a feature back, yes. He’s ranked highly enough to be a start, but not in the top-10 or -12, so temper your expectations and don’t see him as a number one fantasy back against the Vikings defense. 
15.  Ronnie Brown, MIA (vs BAL). You basically have to start Brown. You never know what kind of stat line he’ll finish with now, with the Wildcat formation. The Dolphins will still get him the ball, even against a tough Ravens defense (that was exposed by Peyton Manning, but… It’s Peyton Manning).

Rank	Name	Team	Opponent
16	Jamal Lewis	CLE	at WAS
17	Michael Pittman	DEN	at NE
18	Sammy Morris	NE	vs DEN
19	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	vs NO
20	Derrick Ward	NYG	vs SF
21	Ryan Grant	GB	vs IND
22	Thomas Jones	NYJ	at OAK
23	Earnest Graham	TB	vs SEA
24	Darren McFadden	OAK	vs NYJ
25	Willis McGahee	BAL	at MIA
26	Jamaal Charles	KC	vs TEN
27	Rudi Johnson	DET	at HOU
28	Kevin Faulk	NE	vs DEN
29	Fred Jackson	BUF	vs SD
30	Cedric Benson	CIN	vs PIT
31	LenDale White	TEN	at KC
32	Deuce McAllister	NO	at CAR
33	Justin Fargas	OAK	vs NYJ
34	Warrick Dunn	TB	vs SEA
35	Julius Jones	SEA	at TB
36	Ricky Williams	MIA	vs BAL
37	Kevin Smith	DET	at HOU
38	Chester Taylor	MIN	at CHI
39	Michael Bush	OAK	vs NYJ
40	Le'Ron McClain	BAL	at MIA